Originally published in 2015 in the Pasadena Independent, Arcadia Weekly, Monrovia Weekly, and Sierra Madre News

Nobel Prize in Economics co-recipient Thomas J. Sargent walked its vaunted halls as one of its students some five decades before earning that distinguished award in 2011. The institution – Monrovia High School. Nestled at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, it paints such a pretty picture that it served as the setting for Hollywood films A Cinderella Story; Not Another Teen Movie; Liar, Liar; Leave it to Beaver; and Drive Me Crazy.

The picturesque scene, however, belies Monrovia High School’s academic prowess. The US News & World Report Best High Schools gave it a silver medal, ranking it at 12% nationally and 6% statewide. It has a college readiness score of 31 and an academic performance index at 802, above the California index of 789. It is the only 9 -12 comprehensive high school in the Monrovia Unified School District. MHS has a total enrollment of 1,766 students (51% male and 49% female), a total minority enrollment of 72%, 51% economically disadvantaged, and 5% English learners. It has 74 full-time teachers, giving it a student/teacher ratio of 24:1.

According to Dr. Katherine Thorossian, Monrovia Unified School District Superintendent, 100% of Monrovia High School’s Math and Science Academy 2014 graduates fulfilled the University of California entrance requirements with four years of college-preparatory English; three years of math; two years of lab science; two years of history/social science; two years of foreign language; one year of fine art elective; and one year of an additional elective in a college-approved course. Ninety percent of all HMS 2014 graduates enrolled in college.

The school’s accolades are equally robust in the athletic arena as the Wildcat student athletes compete with excellence. Monrovia High School offers athletic teams for both boys and girls and competes in the Rio Hondo League in the Southern Section of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). MHS teams have earned numerous league championships and the Wildcats are home to CIF championship programs in football, baseball, basketball, track and field, and swim dating back to 1967.

The world-class education to which the district aspires would not be complete without a comprehensive arts department. Whether film or video production, vocal or instrumental music, ceramics, drama, dance, or art; students hone their own talents with the expert guidance of college level instructors, highly qualified teachers, and artists-in-residence. Indeed, the professional theatre program within the city is sponsored by the Monrovia High School District  offering students an opportunity to share the stage with actors from across the region.

Given its achievements in academics, athletics, and the arts, it is no wonder that in 2006 the community approved a $45 million bond to finance the high school’s enhancement project. Major construction transformed the campus by establishing a modern Performing Arts Center; constructing a science building with tech labs; and building an event center to support robotics as well as athletics competitions, a stadium and bleachers.

Monrovia High School boasts a beautiful bell tower and is one of a few select schools within the state equipped with a fully functional observatory where the Astronomy class convenes. In fact, during the 2012-2013 schoolyear, students in the Math and Science Academy communicated with the NASA space station through the dome link that is used in the Performing Arts Center.

Monrovia High School’s motto promoting ‘scholars and champions’ reflects the extensive work being done by their team of four college counselors and counselor technician. These are the architects of the annual college fair, financial aid and essay workshops hosted on campus. College tours are also available over spring break for juniors. Personalized attention is provided by counselors and additional resources are available in the Career Center where students prepare and complete their application during the college admissions process.    

The Monrovia Unified School District emphasizes the role its citizens play in their youth’s development. Residents of this small tight-knit community know that it takes a village to raise productive, responsible citizens. Parents, teachers, and neighbors share the responsibility for providing guidance to their studentry. At no time was this more palpable than in 2012 when the city was beset by the fourth teen suicide in two years. This propelled the leaders of the community to establish Healing Connections, a program aimed at eliminating teen suicide. A third of its membership is comprised of high school students. Through it, they launched the March for Balance campaign to reduce the stigma attached to mental health problems. MHS holds a fair on campus where families can come to meet with psychiatrists and family counseling professionals, to learn about coping with mental illness and treatment options. Healing Connections earned MUSD the prestigious Golden Bell Award, the district’s 18th such award.

This collaborative approach was utilized by MHS’s most acclaimed alumnus, Thomas Sargent, when his and Christopher Sims’ research on how changes in interest rates and taxes affect growth and inflation was awarded the Nobel Prize. According to Wikipedia, Thomas Sargent ranks 14^th among the most cited economists in the world. What an honor it is for Monrovia High School, where the sound of his footsteps echoes on its halls long after he has left it.